Luke Gardner

Luke Gardner, PhD, is an extension specialist focused on sustainable aquaculture and its impacts on California’s coastal environment and economy.  

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Leading and supporting aquaculture research, education, and extension activities, Luke Gardner, PhD, is a biologist exploring how sustainable aquaculture intersects with the coastal California environment, economy and residents. Gardner has expertise in identifying emerging aquaculture challenges and opportunities within California and is focused on community supported solutions. Currently based at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, he earned his PhD from Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and holds a BS in aquaculture from James Cook University, Australia.

Expertise

• Finfish, shellfish and seaweed aquaculture

• Conservation and restoration aquaculture

• Hatchery technology

• Nutrition and reproduction of cultivated species

Research

Gardner works closely with California’s aquaculture industry applying advanced and emerging technologies to help solve challenges limiting growth. Using his training as a molecular biologist, Gardner studies physiological systems in marine organisms including reproduction, biomineralization, toxicology and nutrition. His sustainable aquaculture development work also focuses on husbandry and hatchery technology.

Extension and Outreach

In his role as an extension specialist Gardner teaches graduate student level courses on aquaculture at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and supervises thesis research projects. Working with a variety of different stakeholders, Gardner also regularly develops and hosts workshops and forums on emerging aquaculture challenges. Additionally, he is a delegate for both the US-Korea Joint Coordination Panel for Aquaculture Cooperation and the US-Japan Natural Resource Panel on Aquaculture.

Featured Outreach Products

• Pathways Toward Responsible Aquaculture in California

Publications

Fong, C.R., Gonzales, C.M., Rennick, M., Lahra, H.J., Gardner, L.D., Halpern, B.S., Froehlich, H.E. 2022  California aquaculture in the changing food seascape

Froehlich, H.E., Gentry, R.R., Lester, S.E., Rennick, M., Lemoine, H.R., Tapia-Lewind, S., Gardner, L.D. 2022 Piecing together the data of the U.S. marine aquaculture puzzle

Lester, S.E., Gentry, R.R., Lemoine, H.R., Froehlich, H.E., Gardner, L.D., Rennick, M., Ruff, E.O., Thompson, K.D. 2021 Diverse state-level marine aquaculture policy in the United States: Opportunities and barriers for industry development

Wasson, K, Gossard, D.J., Gardner, L.D., Hain, P.R., Zabine, C.J., Fork, S., Ridlon, A.D., Bible, J.M., Deck, A.K., Hughes, B.B. 2020  A scientific framework for conservation aquaculture: A case study of oyster restoration in central California

Parish, G.R., Rowbotham, I., Mendoza, N.E., Norton, A.G., Klinger, D.H., Dale, J.D., Hopkins, K.D., Garcia-Ortega, A., Block, B.A., Farwell, C., Gardner, L.D., 2019. Energetic savings when switching from a whole-fish type diet to a commercial pelleted diet in California yellowtail (Seriola dorsalis). Aquaculture 734496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734496

Gardner, L.D., Peck, K.A., Goetz, G.W., Linbo, T.L., Cameron, J.R., Scholz, N.L., Block, B.A.,        Incardona, J.P., 2019. Cardiac remodeling in response to embryonic crude oil exposure involves unconventional NKX family members and innate immunity genes. J. Exp. Biol.  222.

Sassoubre, L.M., Yamahara, K.M., Gardner, L.D., Block, B.A., Boehm, A.B., 2016. Quantification of Environmental DNA (eDNA) Shedding and Decay Rates for Three Marine Fish. Environ. Sci. Technol. 50, 10456–10464.

Madigan, D.J., Carlisle, A.B., Gardner, L.D., Jayasundara, N., Micheli, F., Schaefer, K.M., Fuller, D.W., Block, B.A., 2015. Assessing niche width of endothermic fish from genes to ecosystem. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 112, 8350–8355.

Gardner, L.D., Jayasundara, N., Castilho, P.C., Block, B., 2012. Microarray gene expression profiles from mature gonad tissues of Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus in the Gulf of Mexico. BMC Genomics 13, 1.